Thirty-Nine

 After sending out the Moments reply, Zhou Yang waited and waited but didn’t get a response from Su Hao, nor did he receive a reply on WeChat. He was sinking deeper into the sofa, his finger joints clearly visible as he held his phone, occasionally clicking into Su Hao’s Moments and sometimes into their chat.

He was indecisive, waiting for her message.

“What are you staring at so intently?” A long leg suddenly kicked him. Zhou Yang looked up to meet Wen Zeli’s face. Wen Zeli had unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat back on the sofa opposite him, lighting a cigarette and snorting coldly, “What’s wrong? Looking at me like you’re heartbroken.”

“I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet.” Wen Zeli said, forcefully slamming the cigarette on the table with a menacing attitude.

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, placing his phone on the table with an air of calm, “What accounts? Can you even settle them?”

“You’re such a bastard, Zhou Yang.” Wen Zeli pointed at him.

Resting his hand on his knee, Wen Zeli glared at Zhou Yang, “You nearly got me killed because of that Miss Shen. And you still have the nerve—aren’t these all accounts to be settled?”

“That’s your wife.” Zhou Yang picked up the champagne on the table, poured it into two glasses, set it down, and handed one to Wen Zeli. “Let’s put personal matters aside for now and discuss the situation with Xingyan International.”

Wen Zeli took the drink and clicked his tongue, “When things are good, she’s ‘wife’; when things are bad, she’s ‘Miss Shen’.”

Zhou Yang also laughed, swirled his glass, added a few ice cubes, took a sip, and glanced at his phone. The phone was quiet with no response. His eyes deepened, and he picked up the documents beside him, handing them to Wen Zeli. “Take a look. Is this price reasonable? We sent someone over to negotiate, but they’re not very familiar with their internal situation and always feel like the person is holding something back.”

Wen Zeli took the documents, flipping them open with the hand holding his drink. Ice water slid down his fingers. After looking at it for a moment, he immediately said, “He’s definitely holding something back. This price is too high. If he retains some of the technology, you’ll be the one losing out.”

“Damn.” Zhou Yang smiled as he chewed on an ice cube. “Still trying to scrape some flesh off me? This guy has some nerve.”

“This person can’t be used. If you acquire them, it’s best to deal with them harshly.” Wen Zeli said, putting down the documents and reaching for the tongs to grab some ice cubes.

But Zhou Yang’s gaze drifted to the phone on the table, clearly distracted.

How many times had he checked his phone?

“What’s with the constant phone-checking?” Wen Zeli reached out to grab Zhou Yang’s phone, but Zhou Yang avoided him. Wen Zeli rested his hands on his knees, watching Zhou Yang as he put down his phone and glanced at it once more. Wen Zeli squinted, studying him for a moment.

Zhou Yang: “Nothing.” He calmly set his phone aside, picked up a tablet, and swiped through some data while talking to Wen Zeli. Wen Zeli took out his own phone and started typing in a group chat.

Wen Zeli: Damn! Is Zhou Yang also failing to pursue that Su Hao?

Xu Dian: Congratulations, you finally noticed!

Wen Zeli: Hahaha, discussing something with him, checking his phone seven or eight times, and now for the ninth time, still waiting for a message? Hahaha, I’m instantly relieved.

Li Yi: Is Su Hao that easy to pursue? You’re too naive.

Xu Dian: Oh, is it the tenth time now? Are you sure you can close the deal tonight?

Jiang Yu: I almost can’t believe this person is Zhou Yang.

Li Yi: Picture.

Li Yi: Look at the post I made.

Xu Dian: [“You have time to browse lipsticks but no time to send me a message?”]

Wen Zeli: Hahaha, so bitter.

Jiang Yu: So resentful, should let Shi Lin see this.

Lunch was at the Zhou family’s house. Su Hao and Su Qian cooked together, and Uncle Zhou even came back. After lunch, Zhou Qinkai had to go out on business and took Su Hao back to the Huahui Community. Su Hao said goodbye to Zhou Qinkai, dragged her suitcase upstairs, and when she returned to her place, she rested on the sofa.

After resting for about ten minutes, she got up to clean the guest bedroom, tidied up the place again, and laid out a new rug she had bought, making it cozy. She then took a photo and sent it to Cheng Ling.

Cheng Ling rarely types.

She sent a voice message: “Very beautiful.”

“Mom, do you like it?”

“I love it.”

When Su Hao used to take care of them, no matter how tough things were, their home was always clean and tidy. They had always believed that such a good daughter would be cherished wherever she went. Unfortunately, they still hadn’t seen anyone who truly cherished Su Hao.

“It’s supposed to rain in the city these days, right? If it rains, don’t go out to avoid catching a cold.”

“Got it. Is today the weekend? Are you on vacation?”

“Yes.”

At this moment, the doorbell rang. Su Hao came out of the guest bedroom and walked to the door.

Outside, Zhou Yang had his hands in his pockets, holding a cigarette. He looked at her and said in a low voice, “Have a drink of water.”

He was speaking over a voice call.

As Su Hao was in a daze, Cheng Ling heard it too and immediately asked, “Who’s that?”

Su Hao looked at the man in front of her, who was unfastening his tie. Su Hao whispered, “Mom, Zhou Yang happened to come over. I’ll get him a glass of water.”

Cheng Ling didn’t expect it to be Zhou Yang and was momentarily stunned.

She had been pleased to hear that someone was pursuing Su Hao, but upon realizing it was Zhou Yang, that joy instantly vanished. She said, “Oh, it’s Zhou Yang.”

“Yes.” Su Hao turned around to get the water, noticing that Zhou Yang smelled of alcohol.

In that instant, Zhou Yang’s tall frame pressed against her from behind. He was still unfastening his tie, his voice brushing past Su Hao’s ear, with his warm breath on her neck, “Aunt Cheng, long time no see. How have you been?”

He was speaking to Su Hao’s phone.

As Su Hao spoke to Zhou Yang, she turned around and held the phone up to his ear, signaling him to take it. Zhou Yang pretended not to see, continuing to struggle with the tie. He tilted his head and said with a smile, “No need to be polite, it’s only right.”

But his gaze was fixed on Su Hao. She had changed into home clothes for cleaning, with a loose neckline revealing her delicate skin, which he looked at with some indiscretion.

Su Hao nudged the phone again.

To make him take it.

“Alright.” Cheng Ling also sighed in relief.

After the mother and daughter ended the call, Su Hao put the phone down, poured a glass of water, and walked over to Zhou Yang, handing it to him. Zhou Yang was leaning against the sofa armrest. The tie was finally untangled and hanging down on both sides, with his collar open, giving him a wild look. He didn’t take the water, saying, “Come on, serve me, you busy person.”

Su Hao placed the glass on the table and responded with a light mockery, “Busy person, you can drink it yourself.”

Zhou Yang: “”

Su Hao went back to the guest bedroom, pulled out the trash bag, tied it up, and placed it by the door. Zhou Yang still didn’t touch the glass of water. Although he had been drinking, his eyes were clear, but the alcohol had eased his earlier irritation. His narrow eyes followed her every move as she dealt with the trash bag and then went into the kitchen to do something.

He saw her pale arm reaching up to get the lint roller, with her sleeve falling off, her skin as white as jade.

“Su Hao.”

“What’s up?”

Su Hao’s voice came from the kitchen.

Zhou Yang: “Are you wearing size B?”

Su Hao was taken aback, and after a few seconds, she realized what he meant. The kitchen door slammed shut with some anger.

Zhou Yang chuckled a few times, then got up from the sofa. He drank the whole glass of still-warm water in one go and walked to the kitchen door. He knocked lightly and said, “What do you like?”

“Discounted lipsticks? Hmm?”

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